Dime-sized Handset Radio System Unveiled

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pd.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=OnlineArticles&SubSection=Display&PUBLICATION_ID=21&ARTICLE_ID=167641' target='_blank'>http://pd.pennnet.com/Articles/Arti...TICLE_ID=167641</a><br /><br /></div>This is just amazing stuff. I really, really hope technology like this speeds universal integration of wireless communications into more and more devices, including a broader array of future-generation Pocket PC devices...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/th_117235.jpg" /><br /><br />"A complete handset radio system that fits into a single, dime-sized package is available from Skyworks Solutions (Woburn, Mass.). The SKY74073 Single Package Radio (SPR) solution joins the radio circuitry needed for GSM/GPRS 900/1800 handsets into one compact package measuring one-third the size of solutions using discrete components."

[anthonymoody]

WHoa that's wild. Not sure what the smallest was before this, but that's SMALL. It's half the size of the SIM for crying out loud. Which raises a question: could it somehow be incorporate into a SIM so that the overall size factor wouldn't have to be larger than a SIM?

TM

[malcolmsharp]

This is nice, but I think the key will be software radios. With a software defined radio and a flexible computer (say, a PPC) running it, you could truely have a omni-device.

Cell phone? Sure... what type of service? Whatever type you want or need. Change providers? Cool... no need to change phones. Just download the needed info and set your radio to the correct settings.

It could also be a walkie talkie, a remote control, FM/AM radio, and anything else you wanted.

[spg]

I agree with malcolm, the ultimate device would be something that could use any number of wireless technologies. Now I'm sure that is a good ways down the road, and I must say it is really amazing how much they can fit into such a small package these days.

Now we just need a tiny speaker and microphone, a quarter sized triangle and we could have ourselves a Comm Badge StarTrek style. :lol: Ok, so maybe not quite yet, but wouldn't it be cool? 8)

[Gary Garland, Esq.]

Err, honey, have you seen my new headset radio? I can't find it anywhere. It's about the size of a piece of belly lint. Oh, I think I stuck it in the candy machine instead of that square dime i usually carry... :D

[Gary Garland, Esq.]

I just don't want to work today:

I bet this radio weighs 45 pounds!

[vincentsiaw]

does smaller size means less power needed as well :?:

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

does smaller size means less power needed as well :?:
In general, I'd think that would be true... I can't imagine this tiny little chip requiring a whole lot of power at all.

[alex22]

Hope we can soon have a device with integrated everything, integrated radio, GRPS, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and more !

How much will that cost? :(

[Programmer]

Hope we can soon have a device with integrated everything, integrated radio, GRPS, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and more !

How much will that cost? :(

You saw the picture didn't you? Looks to me that it only costs a dime! :lol:

Robert

[Kirkaiya]

This is nice, but I think the key will be software radios. With a software defined radio and a flexible computer (say, a PPC) running it, you could truely have a omni-device.

Cell phone? Sure... what type of service? Whatever type you want or need. Change providers? Cool... no need to change phones. Just download the needed info and set your radio to the correct settings.

It could also be a walkie talkie, a remote control, FM/AM radio, and anything else you wanted.

I think they'll both have a place (software radios and hardwired radios). If software radios are "emulating" a piece of hardware, they may require more processing power (and run more slowly) than if the same logic were "hardwired" - i'm not really sure, I'd like to see numbers.

In any case, it should always be possible to implement a hardware solution that is smaller than a software solution, since the software solution needs to address multiple possibilities; the hardware can address only one.

Since cellphone networks only get upgraded every few years, if that. I went from Sprint Spectrum (800 MHz band PCS) in 1997, to Sprint PCS (1900 MHz band?) in 2000, and then in 2002, they introduced their 2.5 G network (which is backwards compatible with the old PCS phones).

I'm all for software radios, just thought I'd point out that, in the mobile phone space, they might not be all that necessary. In the WLAN arena, however, where new standards for 802.11 seem to be proposed on a monthly basis (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11x...) I think that software radios become much more valuable.

OH - and this thing is TINY !!!! Man, you could build this into MY luggage (see thread on bluetooth luggage), and then if it got stolen, i could call it, and get a GPS lock... I think the fact that i just watched, "Enterprise" is messing with my judgement.. lol